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Legislator Profile - Representative Steve Court Considering that, prior to his first run for political in office in 2008, Court had never served as a precinct committeeman, attended a district meeting or worked on a political campaign, his rapid rise from retired citizen to senior House leader is nothing short of meteoric. Characteristic of his modest nature, however, Court attributes his entry into leadership to logistics. "In 2008, forty freshmen were elected to the Legislature," he notes. "The freshman class of 2010 numbers forty-two. There just aren't that many people with experience from which to choose." Court was born in Winchester, Massachusetts, and raised in Wakefield, a scenic town 10 miles north of Boston that was first settled in 1638. His mother's family, of Canadian and German descent, immigrated to the United States from Canada. His father's ancestors came to America from England during colonial times. Court, who still has family in New England, can boast of relatives who fought in the Revolutionary War. Upon his graduation from high school, Court entered college at the Lowell Technological Institute, an academic gem that has since been absorbed into the University of Massachusetts system. Lacking a passion for science and engineering, he settled on accounting as his major after his first year. During his collegiate career, Court concentrated on his studies but did find time to participate as a member of the Lowell crew team, plying the waters of Greater Boston in a four-man boat. Court also joined a local fraternity, Omicron Pi. Although it was not part of a national network, the parochial organization fostered an especially strong brotherhood that ultimately had a great impact on Court's future. Following graduation, for example, he joined with a fraternity brother to try their hand at homebuilding. They constructed a single house on spec just as the residential housing market tanked. "That project didn't work out so well," Court recalls. Other fraternity brothers, however, had an idea whose promise helped shape the contours of Court's adult life. They had moved to Arizona to work for Motorola, which was at the time the Valley's largest employer. They encouraged Brother Court to join them. He did, and the decision led to a 20-year career as an accountant with the electronics giant. "I drove through snowstorms to get here," Court remembers. "It was great to arrive at a place where the summer was bearable and winter was non-existent." Sitting outside as his first summer as an Arizonan approached, Court recognized that something elemental to the season was missing. "There weren't any mosquitoes to slap at," he laughs. The decision to relocate to Arizona led not only to a new job but to the altar as well. Having converted to the Mormon faith as a young adult, he met his wife Susan, a native Arizonan, at an LDS church on the campus of Arizona State University. They celebrated their 33rd anniversary in August. The union has been a fruitful one. The couple has produced four children, three of whom attended Westwood High like their mother (the fourth attended Mountain View). Moreover, all four graduated from college, are married and are producing children of their own. The Courts have 11 grandchildren - so far. After his successful tenure at Motorola, Court yielded to his entrepreneurial urges and purchased a Chem-Dry carpet and upholstery cleaning business from his brother-in-law. Court found that running the business was hard work, as he endured the transition from white collar executive to small businessman who did it all - including the gritty labor of carpet sanitation. He stuck with it, though, earning a decent living from the franchise for 10 years, after which period he decided to sell the business to his eldest son and retire. Enjoying retirement in idle repose, however, was out of the question - especially as his wife continued (and continues) to work as a full-time attorney with the Mesa law firm of Jackson White. That's where politics came in. A persuasive friend encouraged Court to run for the House in 2008. There were two open seats in legislative district 18, so the enterprising retiree boldly announced his candidacy and went to work. He won that first election on the force of his message, reputation and ability. As a legislator, Court enjoys the policy-making aspects of his work far more than the associated politics. Given his background in finance and accountancy, he is especially drawn to budget and tax policy. In the letter accompanying her veto of SB 1322 (managed competition; city services), Governor Brewer wrote: "I am becoming increasingly concerned that many bills introduced this session micromanage decisions best made at the local level. What happened to the conservative belief that the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people?" Asked for his reaction to the Governor's comments, Majority Leader Court does not mince words: "I agree with the Governor 100 percent." Surely that explains why he was recognized with a Friend of Cities award at the League's annual conference in 2011. Following the 2011 legislative session, Court made a determined effort to lose weight. Shedding pounds at a clip of four a week, he lost 30 in the first two months of his diet. He then proceeded to cast off another 35, mainly by watching calories. (He also credits colleague Representative Tom Forese for sharing a useful calorie-tracking mobile phone application.) If the majority leader of the Arizona House can impose the same kind of discipline on the lower chamber that he has with respect to his own diet, then Arizonans will doubtless enjoy more effective and efficient legislative machinery. And they just might find that they have a leader who is worth his (diminished) weight in gold. |
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Legislative Bulletin is published by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. Forward your comments or suggestions to league@azleague.org. |
